''Sunčanica'' is a historical

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

composed by

Boris Papandopulo Boris Papandopulo (February 25, 1906 – October 16, 1991) was a Croatian composer and conductor of Greek and Russian Jewish descent. Ha-Kol (Glasilo Židovske zajednice u Hrvatskoj); Djela hrvatskih skladatelja Židovskog podrijetla u Beču; ...

, with a

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

by Marko Soljačić based on

Ivan Gundulić Dživo Franov Gundulić (; 8 January 1589 – 8 December 1638), better known today as Ivan Gundulić, was the most prominent Baroque literature, Baroque poet from the Republic of Ragusa (now in Croatia). He is regarded as the Croatian national ...

's ''Osman'' and his son Šišmundo Gundulić, who continued the Osman, about the Sunčanica history. It was first performed at the

Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb (), commonly referred to as (), is a theatre, opera and ballet house located in Zagreb. Overview The theatre evolved out of the first city theatre opened in 1834, housed in the present-day Old City Hal ...

(then the ''Croatian State Theatre in Zagreb'') on June 13, 1942.Sunčanica
Theatar.hr The opera was produced by

Branko Gavella Branko Gavella (29 July 1885 – 8 April 1962) was a Croatian theatre director, critic and essayist. Biography Born in Zagreb, Croatia (which was at the time part of Austria-Hungary) Gavella finished high school in his hometown before enrolling a ...

, choreographed by

Ana Roje Ana Roje (17 October 1909 – 17 March 1991) was a Croatian ballet dancer. Ana Roje was born on 17 October 1909 in Split, Croatia.Roje, Ana. ''Hrvatska enciklopedija'', ''mrežno izdanje.'' Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža, 2013 – 2024. ...

and

Oskar Harmoš Oskar may refer to: People * Oskar (given name), a masculine given name, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Jón Óskar (1921–1998), Icelandic poet * Lee Oskar (born 1948), Danish harmonica player, a founding memb ...

, and its main role was played by Srebrenka Jurinac. In 2008, the opera was fully performed for the first time in 62 years when it opened the ''16th Zajc's Days'' festival at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka.Sunčanica opera opened the 16th Zajc's Days
, Javno.com

References

Croatian-language operas 1935 operas Operas Operas by Boris Papandopulo {{Croatia-stub